Albuquerque – New Mexico’s biggest city – has some rough edges. Breaking Bad was set and filmed in Albuquerque. The approach to the center on Route 66 along Central is a bit sketchy. Even my book had a warning and it doesn’t do that too often.
It is not a particularly attractive stretch of 66, but here and there it has its moments. It is definitely in transition with a lot being town down and the chain places going in. Some older businesses seem to be hanging on: I saw stores like Jones Surplus, Vick’s Vittles, Outwest Auto Corral, Hillson’s Western Wear (and went inside the Hillson store – they have quite a selection of cowboy boots if your are driving through and need some boots). Lots and lots of extant Route 66 signage.
There was a lot to like in Albuquerque, however, even if it was a little dodgy. It grew on me, and I hope I am not being too hard on it. In this set you will see a number of photos along Central from the edge of the city to the downtown. There is an edgy hipster section called “Nob Hill” close the university which is better. Lots of street art, as you can see.
In the downtown there is the amazing KiMo Theatre, a “Pueblo Revival” art deco movie palace (1927). FYI the Navajo whirling log symbol (used in the design of the KiMo) according to Wikipedia denotes abundance, prosperity, healing and luck, and it long predates Nazi Germany’s adoption in the 1920s of the swastika as its symbol.
Read more about the KiMo here
The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque is excellent. Meet William. 81. He is a former USAF pilot and volunteers at the museum. He flew the “Big Iron”. The B-52 and B-47. The B-47 from 1959 -65; the B-52 was from 1971-75. Also a C-130 in Vietnam in between. He said flying a bomber was hard work. That’s his B-52 “Condensed Checklist” from his time flying that plane. Sobering.
There was a great neighborhood around the UNM campus; I took some pictures of the houses around there. Also there (and in this set) is the art deco Indian Hospital (1934). It was originally used as a tuberculosis sanatorium and now houses the Albuquerque Indian Health Center (AIHC).
The Albuquerque Old Town was also very enjoyable. Read more here
Who are the other people? The woman with the beautiful face is a Native American vendor in Old Town from the Santo Domingo Pueblo. Also pictured is a shop owner with another Native American vendor as well as a guide I was talking with. The man in the blazer came up to me downtown to ask me about my camera. Great guy. He was a photographer for many years.
